Kicking the Habit (biting nails)

     As people we tend to pick up nasty habits. For me I used to like biting my nails and smoking just to name a few. I'm sure I have others, but these two habits I share with a lot of people. Biting your nails involves putting your fingers in your mouth. After touching any and everything throughout the day, handing off and receiving germs from different people, and even through the night when you are sleeping and scratching anywhere on your body. Anyhow, I tried everything to stop the habit! I tried to keep them polished, the nasty tasting finger nail polish, even having fake nails put on, and none of that worked. I still found away around it to get to my nails. So what finally did the trick for me is I decided one day that I would write down every single thing that I touch. That by the way is impossible because you are always touching something even without being aware that you just touched something new. I wash my hands all the time, and I have a bottle of antibacterial soap pretty much anywhere I go and that still doesn't keep all the germs off your hands. Especially under your nails where germs like to rest for a long time because it is difficult to get everything out from under your nails while scrubbing your hands. However, by writing down anything you can remember you have touched, and imagine putting your fingers in your mouth along with those items can really turn you off from ever biting your nails again. Its amazing how even pushing an elevator button can transfer some nasty germs to you. The next time you go to put your nail in your mouth and want to begin chewing it off, stop! Imagine going up to a complete stranger and putting their nails in your mouth, you don't have any idea of the bacteria under your nails just as you wouldn't a complete strangers! Try the hand washing/ blacklight challenge!! It'll amaze you!

Wicked Winter

    This winter so far has been brutal for illness, at least for our family it has. I have had bronchitis, my five year old has had a cold and also pneumonia. My eleven year old has had a cold, stomach flu, and a sore throat. My daughter has had a terrible cough of which she had to take antibiotics, steroids, cough suppressant, and a fever reducer. My husband has also been ill with the flu, cough, and sore throat. Trust me it's not due to lack of cleanliness! I am a germaphobe like no other. Constantly washing hands and squirting on the antibacterial soap. With most of the above mentioned illnesses there isn't much you can do other than wait them out, and take some over-the-counter medications to subside some of the symptoms. Obviously with the pneumonia you need some strong antibiotics. The rest of the common illnesses usually just take some time, rest, fluids, and in some cases a humidifier! 

   

     The humidifier really helped with my sons breathing during his pneumonia, and it actually helps to keep his throat from getting raw. We have continued using it hoping to keep away any other problems with his throat being so dry. Honey rather than medicine help soothe the throat so he was able to eat food without complaining of his throat hurting so much. Just a teaspoon here and there did wonders for him, and he also enjoyed the taste. It made his cough very much more bearable for him. However, for us adults Nyquil severe flu seemed to work better to help with the flu. Especially when I have three kids of which the younger two are in need of constant attention, so getting actual "rest" isn't an option. I have to get over whatever illness I get very quickly, because toddlers really don't understand when mommy is sick. 

Welcome to my very first blog! Here is a little getting to know me!

     Hello, my name is Alicia. I am a mother of three amazing children. They are all very smart and unique in their own way. Each one does something that amazes me everyday, as well as something that makes me want to pull out my hair! I love them all to pieces either way. I am married to a wonderful man named Jeremy that is literally my other half. My family is my life. We live out in the sticks (hints the name of the blog :) so we have to find ways to entertain one another, which in our family could be anything. A lot of the games we play are usually made up by any of us. Sometimes we make homemade fun toys, which usually are more fun then the expensive toys. I will get into more of that later.

     I have worked in health care for almost 13 years, and have tried a couple different positions in between to see if something else out there got me excited. I have found that the thing that excites me the most is my family. All of them! I come from a crazy family, complicated and very confusing to try to explain. However, there is many of us, and we keep each in line, and we are all crazy at times! This is like my online journal. My opinions, or just random curious thoughts. Full-Time mom, employee, wife, sister, family, life.